"razors need to rest" ???

[whodat]

I have a buddy who insists that I'm using the same razor too often -- usually every other day but sometimes daily. He said I need to let a straight razor rest for at least a few days, if not a week, so that the steel can "relax" and not develop a microscopic wobble.

Is he being accurate or just messing with me? A link to info about this phenomenon would be appreciated.

By the way, the razor hasn't had any issues except for those common to the hands of a relative beginner.

[ouch]

This is more of a question for mettalurgists, as it pertains to the science of a newly formed edge settling into a state of equilibrium. I have no answer, but I have noticed that whenever I sharpen my knives, they seem a lot sharper the next day.

[whodat]

Yeah I guess I'll have to find a metallurgist forum -- Welder & Forge instead of Badger & Blade? :)

[kestrel]

whodat

Resting the blade is the essential justification for the seven day case of razors. I have no idea whether resting prolongs the life of an edge, but it's at least a good excuse to own more than one razor, so I believe it wholeheartedly:wink:

Best Regards

Graham

[Rorschuck]

This is more of a question for mettalurgists, as it pertains to the science of a newly formed edge settling into a state of equilibrium. I have no answer, but I have noticed that whenever I sharpen my knives, they seem a lot sharper the next day.

Hmmm... interesting. You think it has to do with lunar cycles? I bet the moon helps align the edge.

[ClunkClunk]

It's actually due to the fact that the year is 365 days long, which is slightly more 360 days. If you make each day a degree, and you rest a razor for one day, it gets one degree sharper. If you really dulled a razor, you could wait up to four or five days before the earth's rotation worked it's way around the razor's edge, reclaiming those four or five degrees of dullness.

Okay, sorry, just trying to make something up that sounds intelligent, yet has zero scientific basis. :-)

[kelbro]

How long did the barbers that used straights for shaves rest their blades?

[razercat]

The most of my straights have not been used in a year because I mainly use a only few certan ones. So I guess the ones that have'nt been used should be able to split an atom.

Eddie

[BartFromBelgium]

Well if it helps. My grandfather once had a set of straight razors, there were seven of them. One for each day, and according to whoever he got it from, the purpose was to use a razor for a specific day, to give the blades the time to 'settle'... or something..

[dpm802]

Well if it helps. My grandfather once had a set of straight razors, there were seven of them. One for each day, and according to whoever he got it from, the purpose was to use a razor for a specific day, to give the blades the time to 'settle'... or something..

I think that the main reason that many sets of razors come in seven is so that a fresh, sharp razor is always ready each day, and that honing, stropping and other maintenance can be done all at once, usually on the same day each week.

[whodat]

All great input -- though nothing more scientific than the lunar cycle and the number of days in a year! :biggrin:

I'm assured that resting a blade cuts down on irritation, but I'm still not 100% sold, without some cold hard facts. I guess, though, if it works -- and allows me to get at least a couple more blades -- it's right.

Thanks again for the input...

[Bacchus]

Yeah I guess I'll have to find a metallurgist forum -- Welder & Forge instead of Badger & Blade? :)


Woo! :w00t:

But sorry, no clue, doesnt sound that real to me

[jimmyray]

My personal experience doesn't reflect this theory. I started with one razor shaving every other day, and I didn't notice any problems. Maybe if I shaved daily or more than once a day I would notice something. Even if there was a minor change in the edge, stropping would most likely negate it.

[backpackerx]

I've heard this too but thought it sounded silly but I've definitlely seen this view while reading up on straights.

[riooso]

I don't buy it especially if you put oil on your razor between shaves. You protect the edge from oxidizing so that when you strop the next day you have a nice sharp edge. Sounds like an idea not founded in concrete science but I may be wrong and would welcome a scientific reason that "resting" a blade is good for it.


Take Care,
Richard

[arfed]

He-HAW....BUNK.... My brother is a metalsmith, professional metal finisher, plater, and classical trained silversmith. I asked him this very question. When he stopped laughing he managed to start laughing again. :lol: I'm afraid you are a victim of a joke or are being consuled by a goof. I could go into verbosity, as he did, about lattice and temper but ummmm I ummmm drifted my attention a bit. Short summary being as follows: not being stropped will cause micro oxidation, so 'resting' actually can increase corrosion in the lattice which will have a dulling effect.


Sim

[cybrok]

I study Metallurgy in College, third year.

I honestly think he was messing with you. Once the heat treating is done, the microstructure will not change except if heat is applied, heat that must be over 400 degrees and for more than an hour.

Shave as much as you want.



(except maybe if you put the razor under a pyramid with the blade facing north:P)

[arfed]

I study Metallurgy in College, third year.

I honestly think he was messing with you. Once the heat treating is done, the microstructure will not change except if heat is applied, heat that must be over 400 degrees and for more than an hour.

Shave as much as you want.



(except maybe if you put the razor under a pyramid with the blade facing north:P)

I think I found a mistake in your post. North facing makes it sharper, south facing makes it instantly dull. It says so on the package of my 'Pyramid 200 Shave Flap (battery operated) strop.

[jlander]

whodat

Resting the blade is the essential justification for the seven day case of razors. I have no idea whether resting prolongs the life of an edge, but it's at least a good excuse to own more than one razor, so I believe it wholeheartedly:wink:

Best Regards

Graham

Just seven? :confused:

I have 24 I rotate through. Saves on honing and I get to play with a different toy almost every day!! :w00t:

[AverageJoe]

I agree with whoever said "resting" metal is BUNK!! We're not even slightly WARMING it when we strop or hone---at least not enough to be concerned with. In a "seven day set", each razor would get 1/7 of the use of a single razor user, so of course they would stay sharp longer!

[whodat]

I'm glad we've all agreed it's bunk -- interesting that more than a few have heard this repeated to them.

My buddy was likely told this by whoever introduced him tmo wet shaving. It's still a great excuse to expand my library of blades.

[Bluestaco]

I think your buddy was told this by somebody with a razor for sale. :wink:

[whodat]

I think your buddy was told this by somebody with a razor for sale. :wink:

:lol:

[BillEllis]

Although some relatively knowledgeable boys on the forums subscribe to this phenomenon, I am not one of them.

I actually think this is one of those theories started by Democrats... :lol:

[alb]

The most of my straights have not been used in a year because I mainly use a only few certan ones. So I guess the ones that have'nt been used should be able to split an atom.

k, so you want to be careful with that, as the insurance claim afterward is likely to be a real bear.

[Seraphim]

All great input -- though nothing more scientific than the lunar cycle and the number of days in a year! :biggrin:

I'm assured that resting a blade cuts down on irritation, but I'm still not 100% sold, without some cold hard facts. I guess, though, if it works -- and allows me to get at least a couple more blades -- it's right.

Thanks again for the input...

Try this simple test.

Take a paper clip from your desk.

Bend it.

Let it "rest" for 24 hours.

Did it regain it's shape?

If it did, then by all means, let your razors "rest" for 24 hours. Heck, give them a couple of days off.

If the paper clip remains bent, then just keep shaving away happily everyday, since any metallic ellasticity that the razor may have will either spring back immediately (elastic deformation), or it will remain bent no matter how long you wait (plastic deformation).

Old time barbers are no vessels of great wisdom, they are a bunch of guys who cut hair/whiskers for a living and like throw around alot of B.S. while they do it.

Sort of like us guys here!:blushing:

[Chibbi]

I also heard the metal would grow back on a molecular basis, but I think that's a lot of crock.

[ouch]

Try this simple test.

Take a paper clip from your desk.

Bend it.

Let it "rest" for 24 hours.

Did it regain it's shape?


If we want to be simplistic, let's modify your case slightly-

Take a paper clip from your desk. Bend it back and force ten times. Now touch it to your eyeball.

Burns like the dickens, doesn't it?

Objects change size and shape when they're heated or cooled. That doesn't mean you can put an ice cube in your car and fit it into you pocket. It does mean that when you sharpen a blade, you're heating the extremely small edge, and its shape will change when it cools.

This should in no way affect the performance of a razor that's been recently used. So "rest" assured that you don't have to worry about this.

[Seraphim]

After putting an ice cube in your car, I can assure you you will be able to fit the now melted ice cube into your pocket.

I would however suggest that you put the ice cube to better use by applying it to your now paperclip-scorched eyeball...

[whodat]

I would however suggest that you put the ice cube to better use by applying it to your now paperclip-scorched eyeball...

I'd rather put it to use with a glass of my favorite spirit... but that's just me. :tongue:

[Thebigspendur]

Although some relatively knowledgeable boys on the forums subscribe to this phenomenon, I am not one of them.

I actually think this is one of those theories started by Democrats... :lol:

Actually it falls into the old barbers tales category. There are these basic myth type things that keep being brought back to life in straight use and no matter how they are debunked they keep coming back and people keep believing them. Maybe we should start a list and keep it as a sticky and entitled don't believe this.

[Eighties]

I think that Dovo recommends doing this. Even going so far as to claim that it isn't necessary to strop every day if you let the razor rest.

I tried it with several of my razors and can't say that I've notice any difference and if I don't strop before a shave I usually regret it.

80s

[ouch]

After putting an ice cube in your car, I can assure you you will be able to fit the now melted ice cube into your pocket.

I would however suggest that you put the ice cube to better use by applying it to your now paperclip-scorched eyeball...

Now that's funny.